By Odeisel

The Velvet Underground’s 1969 hit “Pale Blue Eyes,” with its slow-cooked emotion, has been a source of inspiration for many bands, and has been covered a number of times by notable acts including Counting Crows, R.E.M. and Patti Smith. Most recently, music act The Kills have taken to the song, performing it live at a 2009 show and now, as part of Levi’s Pioneer Sessions, they’ve taken it a step further and recorded an official version.

The aim of these sessions is to reconnect current cutting edge groups with the music that inspired them. The Kills, an American/British pairing of alternative rock apostles ( vocalist Alison Mosshart and guitarist Jamie Hince respectively), have three albums to their credit and as a unit generally abandon the traditional trappings attributed to rock stars, including the attention whoring and the pandering to their constituents; trading bright lights and pyrotechnics for sparse, minimalist construction. It totally makes sense that they would choose the moody, spare “Pale Blue Eyes” to reflect their sensibilities.

The song itself, with its muted drum and distorted guitar, speak to the frustration of love: hating to love that person that just has it over you. You aspire to them and hold them as that carrot; chasing the dream that can never be because eventually we all have to wake up. Even when you inspect them and the glisten of that initial, dreamy perfection washes away, they are still at the heart the person who never fails to hold your attention. This song celebrates that core element. The one thing you always remember of them, even when all else goes away. I’m sure you will draw what you will from the lyrics, but it’s good music all the way around. Enjoy.

The Kills-Pale Blue Eyes The Kills-Pale Blue Eyes

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